Indiana Sportsmen Roundtable(ISR) annual meeting

I attended the annual meeting and here is the highlights, those who attended feel free to add or correct my comments.........

Right to hunt and fish as passed by leislature a year ago.......... ISR WILL NOT support it as written. Farm inclusion is not germain nor supported. Will work to kill it.

NRA right to hunt and fish amendment...... too vague. Will not support as written. Board member who is a lawyer said he could "shoot it full of holes" as written. NRA was asked to look at it and submit again.

Pheasants Forever presented a plan for habitat in warm season grasses along interstate right of ways in lue of fescue. All supported their goals.

Indiana Tree Dog Alliance proposed an early squirrel season in March. Impact on breeding season is needed to support.

NRA is asked to take a position on deer farming and high fence hunting as they have already done so in Florida...... They do not support in Florida.

Indiana Wild Turkey Federation reports on how they lead the nation in Indiana on funding habitat restoration.

Catfish Alliance presented a VERY compelling presentation of how commercial fishing is affecting our resource here in Indiana, in Ohio,Wabash as well as inland rivers and streams.Roundtable vows to work closely with the sport fisherman to protect the valuable resource.

Deer farming and Preserve (deer) will again be a topic in the upcoming legislature. ISR will work to kill any and ALL legislation that supports deer farming and presrves.

ISR is investigating and will pursue a Sportsmens Political Action Committee (SPAC). Sad but true............ you have to have money as well as influence in legislative issues.

I'll give a IDNR report in a seperate post here.... WE DO NOT want it perceived IDNR is a part or member of the ISR.

Anyone present at the meeting is free to comment on my reporting of topics.

"WE DO NOT want it perceived IDNR is a part or member of the ISR."

Joe could you explain who is on the ISR? I am just curious.

Indiana Bowhunters, IDHA(of course),Pheasants Forever, Ind Muzzleloader Assoc, Dubois county Sportsmen, In Turkey fed, In Wildlife Federation, In State Pistol and Rifle Assoc. And Many more I could continue on, In Bass Federation almost forgot them.

ISR accepts membership from any group or individual that abides by the North American wildlife plan. In other words...... FAIR CHASE. The ISR is a 501c4, this allows the ISR to legally lobby in the In legislature or even on a national level. 501c3's can be a member, donate as they wish and not affect their status.

State groups belonging to the ISR have a vote on issues the ISR want to pursue. Individuals can be a member but have no voting rights. The board of the ISR does the administrative work but DOES NOT vote on issues.

Hope this helps.

IDNR issues brought forth

License increase is a MUST, they are running 3.1 million in the red.

Deer preserve suit in Harrison county...... they can't comment

Wild hogs, they will not "point" people to where they are. Steve Backs(biologist) and a Federal Biologist are trapping and killing as many as possible when a complaint or sighting is reported.

Purchase of land for the Wabash river and Muscatatuck River project is accelerating. Thousands of acres have been purchased and when access areas are done they will become available for the public.

Most importantly the IDNR needs our support when timber harvest /timber sales is done on public land. EVERY time they have a bid/sale people with no knowledge of forrest management go balistic. Write to the newspapers,16% of timber sales goes to the county. That keeps local taxes down. IDNR is harvestin less than 1% of a given area. Openings are held under 30 feet all other harvest are single tree selective harvest.

Just some stuff IDNR presented to the ISR, remember they were asked to speak and in NO WAY are related to the ISR. IDNR came as guests to inform their "customers".

Yep - understand better.

Thanks